Cleaning blade and apparatus employing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a cleaning blade of a cleaning device for eliminating remaining toner powder from a surface of an image-holding member. The cleaning blade is constituted of silicone rubber. The silicone rubber contains not more than 5% by weight of a low-viscosity organosiloxane component, has rubber hardness within the range of from 40° to 90°, and cause permanent compression set of not more than 20% according to JIS A.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaning blade of a cleaning device for eliminating remaining toner powder from a surface of an image-holding member, said cleaning blade being constituted of silicone rubber, and said silicone rubber; (a) containing not more than 5% by weight of a low-viscosity organosiloxane component,   (b) having a rubber hardness within the range of from 40° to 90°, and   (c) exhibiting a permanent compression set of not more than 20% according to JIS A, wherein the silicone rubber of the cleaning blade contains a silica filler having a particle diameter of not more than 1μ.   
     
     
       2. The cleaning blade of claim 1, wherein the silica has been treated for hydrophobicity. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning blade of claim 1, wherein a supporting member of holding the cleaning blade is placed in a mold for molding the cleaning blade, and the cleaning blade is molded with the supporting member in one body by injection molding. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning blade of claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade is formed from an addition reaction type of liquid silicone rubber. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus unit mountable to and demountable from a main apparatus, said unit being constructed from at least one of a charging means and a developing means, together with a cleaning blade in one unit, said cleaning blade being constituted of silicone rubber, and said silicone rubber: (a) containing not more than 5% by weight of a low-viscosity organosiloxane component,   (b) having a rubber hardness within the range of from 40° to 90°, and   (c) exhibiting a permanent compression set of not more than 20% according to JIS A, wherein the silicone rubber of the cleaning blade contains a silica filler having a particle diameter of not more than 1μ.   
     
     
       6. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: (a) a photosensitive member,   (b) a latent image forming member,   (c) a developing means for developing a formed latent image,   (d) a transfer means for transferring a developed image onto a transfer-receiving material, and   (e) a cleaning blade, said cleaning blade being constituted of silicone rubber, said silicone rubber:     (1) containing not more than 5% by weight of a low-viscosity organosiloxane component,   (2) having a rubber hardness within the range of from 40° to 90°, and   (3) exhibiting a permanent compression set of not more than 20% according to JIS A, wherein the silicone rubber of the cleaning blade contains a silica filler having a particle diameter of not more than 1μ. μ.     
     
     
       7. A facsimile apparatus comprising: (a) an electrophotographic apparatus and   (b) receiving means for receiving an image information from a remote terminal, said electrophotographic apparatus comprising:     (1) a photosensitive member,   (2) a latent image forming member,   (3) a developing means for developing a formed latent image,   (4) a transfer means for transferring a developed image onto a transfer-receiving material, and   (5) a cleaning blade, said cleaning blade being constituted of silicone rubber, said silicone rubber:   (i) containing not more than 5% by weight of a low-viscosity organosiloxane component,   (ii) having a rubber hardness within the range of from 40° to 90°, and   (iii) exhibiting a permanent compression set of not more than 20% according to JIS A, wherein the silicone rubber of the cleaning blade contains a silica filler having a particle diameter of not more than 1μ.